Monday, June 17, 2013

Someone Might Want This Picture

It’s the rare photograph, from among the collected odds and
ends saved by Bill Bean, that managed to include any identifying labels. Today’s
picture includes just enough to make things frustrating.

Clearly, the first line written on the reverse of this
composition states, “Leo Harrington.” The last line adds, “Stanford U”—presumably
referring to the well-known college in Palo Alto, the town where Bill, himself, grew up.

If that were all that was included in the label, this might
have been a straightforward search. There does happen to be a Leo W. Harrington
listed in a directory of Stanford students (Ancestry.com subscribers can view
the directory here)—the only drawback being that the directory dates from 1914.
Assuming that this Leo were born the same year as Bill Bean—1896—that would
mean he was a freshman at Stanford University at that point. Perhaps Leo and
Bill were childhood friends?

There is, however, a glitch. The label on the back includes
one more word. On a line of its own, another word is inserted: “Tonopal.”

What is that supposed to mean? Is this a picture of a man
named Leo H. Tonopal? Hardly. At least, not according to records I could find
on Ancestry.com. A search for that surname draws a blank.

And don’t suppose that is the name of Leo’s residence hall.
According to the directory, the men’s dorm was known as Encina.

Nor is it the name of the street pictured behind this
mystery gentleman. There is no street by that name in Palo Alto.

At this point, unless the real Leo Harrington—or one of his descendants—stands up and claims
this picture, “Tonopal” will just have to remain an enigma.

...shows a Leo W Harrington registering a car in Tonopah, Nevada...in 1918. The 1910 US Census shows him living in Tonopah, Nye, Nevada, age 17. He could well have attended Sanford U (as the record you link to show).

Was this man someone Bill sold a car to?

I think that particular Leo W was Leo Walter Harrington, born 15 Oct 1893 in Butte, Montana. He later lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wife Vessie and died Jun 1954.

1) Since a bunch of the photos appear to be "Leona's" and since Leona and Bill (and Sam) lived in Palo Alto at the time (c. 1910-1916), perhaps Leona, who was older (and old enough) dated this Leo Harrington?

2) Bill was off somewhere (perhaps in Venice, Los Angeles, perhaps not - I found some canals in Alameda and they have some palm trees too!) when he encountered this guy "far from home" and discovered they were "neighbors" from back home.

The Leo Harrington that went to Sanford graduated and became a lawyer, first in Oklahoma, and then in Washington DC (where he died). He wouldn't have put Tonopah on the photo after sometime before the year 1930... since Leo moved to Oklahoma after his college years (I can't find him in the 1920 US census). If this "logic" holds - Leo was a "contemporary" of Leona and/or Bill (i.e., the photo is circa 1914-1918 or even 1920-something) and they were linked by geographical proximity if by no other reason.

That's intriguing! I like the suggestions in the other replies. I was going to say that maybe Tonopal was a small town where Leo was from, or more likely, the name of the place where he is posing in the picture. I's guess the second, since the label is ON the picture.

About Me

It is my contention that, after a lifetime, one of the greatest needs people have is to be remembered. They want to know: have I made a difference?
I write because I can't keep for myself the gifts others have entrusted to me. Through what I've already been given--though not forgetting those to whom I must pass this along--from family I receive my heritage; through family I leave a legacy. With family I weave a tapestry. These are my strands.